A 29-year-old Kailua-Kona man was arrested and charged with auto theft and drug offenses after police spotted him operating a stolen vehicle in Kona on Sunday afternoon, January 14, 2024.
Adam Krilla was arrested by Kona patrol officers at 4:38 p.m. on Sunday after he was seen operating a 2013 Hyundai sedan that had been reported stolen from the Kealakekua area on the evening of Thursday, January 4.
When Krilla was seen operating the stolen vehicle, its front license plate that did not match the rear plate and neither license plate belonged to the vehicle. Both license plates were reported stolen during separate instances in Kona between January 3 and January 8.
Upon his arrest, 0.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine was recovered from Krilla’s person and an additional 0.48 grams of suspected methamphetamine, along with a glass smoking pipe, was recovered from within the stolen vehicle.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Krilla was charged on Monday evening, January 15, with:
- First-degree theft
- First-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle (auto theft)
- Two counts of fourth-degree theft
- Two counts of third-degree promoting a dangerous drug
- Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia
His total bail was set at $11,200. Krilla remained in police custody until his initial court appearance on Tuesday, January 16, in Kona District Court.